It really happened

sorenbarrett

Rent a room, an Uber ride, buy a ticket, get your clothes cleaned and dried
One needs a credit card Clyde, so I applied only to be denied
Asking how this could be the voice on the phone asked me for my identity
Driver's license, social security soon it was confirmed with surety
Why Fred I said, over the line a voice read, so sorry to inform you sir you are dead 

Comments +

Comments17

  • orchidee

    Good write SB.

    • sorenbarrett

      Thanks my friend your read is appreciated

    • soheil khodaparasti

      This carries the atmosphere of No Country for Old Men—a world where ordinary conversations reveal unsettling truths, shaped by Cormac McCarthy's stark realism and the deeper existential concerns that echo through William Butler Yeats.

      • sorenbarrett

        Thanks so much Soheil for the read and comment. Yes and it leaves one without words to respond when one is left to prove one's own existence.

        • soheil khodaparasti

          You are welcome.

          I truly understand what you mean. In a world increasingly dependent on documents and digital records, there are moments when words fall short — especially when one carries the heavy burden of having to prove something as fundamental as one’s own existence. Your poem raises a profound question: do we truly belong to such a world, or have we allowed systems and records to define the very essence of who we are?

          • sorenbarrett

            Societal and political records shape history and define how we look at past and present leaders and policies. What I was taught in school I now find is not true or at least not so by todays records.

            • soheil khodaparasti

              You are right. We need to revisit our past with a fresh look because we have always been shaped by the truths constructed by our culture, experiences, and the voices surrounding us. Today's life is like a fish swimming in the sea while not wanting to get wet.

              • sorenbarrett

                Good analogy

                • soheil khodaparasti

                  Thank you.

                • nephilim56 ( Norman Dickson)

                  Good write friend much enjoyed

                • Lorenz

                  Knowing that you've already died that's a once-in a-life time experience ...

                  • sorenbarrett

                    Thanks Lorenz does that mean that having been pronounced it once that I won't have to go through it again?

                    • Lorenz

                      all you have to do is go back through the twilight zone ...

                      • sorenbarrett

                        Yea but Rod Sterling is dead

                        • Lorenz

                          Our friend is simply in a folded time !

                        • arqios

                          Such a fun read. 🙏🕊️

                          • sorenbarrett

                            Thanks Cryptic once in a while one just has to laugh

                          • Tristan Robert Lange

                            Soren, this had me laughing! I felt the frustration of getting trapped inside a system whose records carry more authority than the living person disputing them. That deliciously dark payoff lands perfectly. And I believe the title! Of course it really happened! Of course! Excellent work, my friend! 🌹🖤🙏🕯️🐦‍⬛

                            • sorenbarrett

                              Thanks so much Tristan for the read and kind remarks. So many times I have had people doubt the crazy things that have happened in my life and here on this site had people challenge them as an old joke or theme from a song but I feel like this story (which really did happen to me in a Home Depot) and I ask myself is it just me that have these things happen or do others have a boring life while I ride the edge.

                              • Tristan Robert Lange

                                Some very well may just live boring lives, indeed! 🤣 But I am sure it is not just you either. Been there myself! The more observant and reflective we are, the more likely we are to notice...methinks. Who really knows? 🤷‍♂️🤪 All of this to simply say...nope, you're not alone! 🤣

                                • sorenbarrett

                                  Well said

                                • Doggerel Dave

                                  Unsure of the time frame here; are you able to blame this on AI, or was this older and the work of a bored seat polishing pen pusher?
                                  Entertaining write, Soren.

                                  • sorenbarrett

                                    Thanks Dave for the read and comment my friend. No this happened about eight of nine years ago at the local Home Depot

                                  • Paul Bell

                                    It seems in this world proving you are dead is tricky.
                                    Now, trying to prove you're not dead seems even trickier.
                                    This is usually when the help desk phone the police on you for impersonating a dead person.

                                    • sorenbarrett

                                      Thanks Paul for the read and comment. Yes I could not come up with a way to prove I was alive showing them my driver's license didn't help nor my wife testifying that it was me they would rather take the word of a computer.

                                    • Moonstruck_1310

                                      Great work I really had fun reading it you sure have a way with words 🙃

                                      • sorenbarrett

                                        You are most kind thanks so much for the read and kind words they mean a lot.

                                      • Kevin Hulme

                                        An enjoyable Read. Nice Rhythm to it.
                                        The reverse happened back in the Eighties.
                                        My Mother died November 6th 1988.
                                        One year later : November 6th, she got Mail saying she had to do Jury Service..
                                        Couldn't make it up.

                                        • sorenbarrett

                                          Thanks so much Kevin for the read and comment and sharing that story. Yes there is no need arguing when you are told you are dead of alive obviously you must be.

                                          • Kevin Hulme

                                            It's my Pleasure.

                                          • mylastwrites

                                            Nice write. Made me smile. Thanks for sharing.

                                            • sorenbarrett

                                              Thanks so much for the read and comment it is most appreciated

                                            • Goldfinch60

                                              Great fun write soren but unfortunately is so true nowadays.

                                              Andy

                                              • sorenbarrett

                                                Thank you Andy for the read and comment and yes you are right and I wasn't laughing when it happened it took the drive home to get over the shock and laugh.

                                              • boot

                                                Haha...my mom collected dad's pension for twenty years after he passed

                                              • NafisaSB

                                                Unbelievable and yet it does happen- and in our land sometimes the dead turn up to vote in the garb of one who does not have a card🤔😔

                                                • sorenbarrett

                                                  Thanks so much for the review Nafisa yes it goes both ways. Some day they will find a way to tax the dead.

                                                  • NafisaSB

                                                    They do and the children have to pay taxes of their parents 😔🤐

                                                  • Joseph M Marion

                                                    I've actually known a true story about this. In my neighborhood when I was a young man about 5 years before this happened his father and his brothers were released from the military and one day the brother kept asking why his cards were being denied so my father being and having connections in the system one over to Roy potassium's bought for him and asked him what was going on showing him the letters he immediately noticed it was because they believed he was dead at this suspicion Roy made some calls downtown in front of the parties that were being blamed and sure enough somebody filed this young man's paperwork in the wrong file under deceased

                                                  • Joseph M Marion

                                                    I forgot to tell you I love this I love the way you write God bless you

                                                    • sorenbarrett

                                                      You are wonderful and I thank you for your read and comment it is always most valued

                                                    • cully45

                                                      Thanks Soren your comments are always appreciated Regards Owen

                                                      • sorenbarrett

                                                        You are welcome but I think this one belongs somewhere else



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